Squash hybrid SV9054YG and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid SV9054YG and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid SV9054YG and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of squash hybrid SV9054YG and theinbred squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant of thehybrid designated SV9054YG, the squash line ZGN-EH-08-283 or squashZGN-EH-08-238. Also provided are squash plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these squash plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid SV9054YGand/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid SV9054YG and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of squash hybrid SV9054YG and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238. The squash seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofsquash seed of squash hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283and ZGN-EH-08-238. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of squash plants designated SV9054YG and/or squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a squash plant of hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating squash plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV9054YGand/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides squashplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing squash seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parentsquash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squashplants is a plant of squash line ZGN-EH-08-283 or squash ZGN-EH-08-238.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid squash seed or plants, wherein a first squash plant is crossedwith a second squash plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of squash lineZGN-EH-08-283 or squash ZGN-EH-08-238. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent squash plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent squash plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent squash plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent squash plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a squash plant or hybrid squashplant.

The present invention also provides the squash seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent squash plant with asecond parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent squash plants is a plant of squash hybrid SV9054YG and/or squashlines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238. In one embodiment of theinvention, squash seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid squash seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridsquash plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid squash plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV9054YG and/or squashlines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 with a second plant; and (b) crossingthe progeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV9054YG and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238. The plant derived fromhybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 maybe an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of squashhybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one squash from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofsquash hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 andZGN-EH-08-238 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used torefer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a squash plant,or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus representsthe genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides squash plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the squash plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283and ZGN-EH-08-238 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by squash plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a squash plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second squash plant, preferably, another, distinctsquash plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a squashplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of squash hybrid SV9054YG, squash lineZGN-EH-08-283 and squash ZGN-EH-08-238.

Squash hybrid ZGNEHH9054, also known as ZGNEHH9054, is a multi-virusresistant dark green zucchini hybrid with high yield potential andheavy, concentrated fruit set. ZGNEHH9054 is suitable for production ofvery small fruits (4-10 cm), and performs very well under high pressureof potyvirus and/or geminivirus.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Squash Hybrid SV9054YG

The parents of hybrid SV9054YG are ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238. Theparent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom.A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptablelimits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Squash HybridSV9054YG, Squash Line ZGN-EH-08-283 and Squash ZGN-EH-08-238

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of squash hybrid SV9054YG and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV9054YG Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC SV9054YG Payroll 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow)summer 4. Cotyledon length 42.1 mm 45.5 mm width 28.9 mm 29.25 mm apextapered tapered veining plainly visible obscure color medium greenmedium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 137A Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofmedium (Cora) medium cotyledons cross section of concave concavecotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant type glabrouspilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape round round diameter atmid-point of 21.55 mm 23.4 mm 1^(st) internode average length 24.4 cm30.75 cm average number of  26.7 24.2 internodes Stem color completelygreen (Becky) completely green intensity of green color very dark(Goldrush) dark mottling absent (Cinderella) absent tendrils welldeveloped (Baby Bear, well developed Greyzini) Plant growth habit bush(Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only:semi-erect (Arlesa) erect attitude of petiole (excluding lower externalleaves) 7. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade form deep lobeddeep lobed margin dentate dentate margin edges frilled frilled averagewidth 28.25 cm 32.4 cm average length 24.3 cm 29.1 cm leaf surfaceblistered blistered dorsal surface pubescence glabrous soft hairy ventalsurface pubescence glabrous soft hairy color dark green dark green color(RHS Color Chart) 147A 139A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotchedwith gray leaf blade: size small (Small Sugar) small leaf blade:incisions deep (Civac) deep leaf blade: intensity of dark (Everest) darkgreen color of upper surface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac)present leaf blade: relative area large (Cora) small covered by silverypatches average petiole length 32.2 cm 35.15 cm petiole: length long(Autumn Gold, Baikal) long petiole: number of absent or very few (Kojac)few prickles 8. Flower pistillate flower: average 12.45 cm 15.3 cmdiameter pistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower:average 1.3 cm 1.75 cm pedicel length pistillate flower: margin curvedstraight shape pistillate flower: margin plain frilled edges pistillateflower: average .95 mm 1.25 mm sepal width pistillate flower: average3.15 mm 5.25 mm sepal length pistillate flower: color orange orangepistillate flower: color  17A  17A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower:average 15.15 mm 18.5 mm sepal length staminate flower: average 2.15 mm2.95 mm sepal width staminate flower: average 104 mm 175 mm pedicellength staminate flower: color orange orange female flower: ring atpresent (Aurore) present inner side of corolla female flower: color ofgreen (Aurore, Early White green ring at inner side of Bush Scallop,President) corolla female flower: intensity of medium (Samba, Senator)medium green color of ring at inner side of corolla (varieties withgreen ring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner present(Goldi) present side of corolla male flower: color of ring green(Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner side of corolla male flower:intensity of strong (Goldi) strong green color of ring at inner side ofcorolla staminate flower: color  23A  21A 9. Fruit market maturity:average 18.6 cm 19.05 cm length market maturity: average 3.1 cm 3.2 cmwidth - stem end at market maturity: 2.5 cm 1.8 cm average width -blossom end market maturity: average 250.35 gm 239 gm weight marketmaturity: shape straightneck straightnectk according to variety typemarket maturity: apex rounded rounded market maturity: base roundedtaper pointed market maturity: ribs inconspicuous prominent marketmaturity: rib shallow shallow furrow depth market maturity: rib mediumwide narrow furrow width market maturity: fruit smooth smooth surfacemarket maturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom slightlyextended raised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/ large(Carlotta) large maximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit:general shape cylindrical (Ambassador, cylindrical (zucchini and roundedIbis) zucchini type varieties) young fruit: main color of green (Elite,Opal, Romano) green skin (excluding color of ribs or grooves) youngfruit: intensity of dark (Arlesa, Sandra, Zefira) medium green color ofskin (as for 27) (excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varietieswith green color of skin) general shape cylindrical cylindrical length(zucchini type medium (Cora) very long varieties) maximum diametermedium (Opal) medium (zucchini type varieties) ratio length/maximumlarge (Carlotta) large diameter (zucchini type varieties) blossom end(zucchini and rounded pointed neck type varieties) grooves absent absentribs present present protrusion of ribs very weak (Leda, Tivoli) strongmain color of skin green (Ambassador, Baby green (excluding color ofdots, Bear) patches, stripes and bands) intensity of green color of dark(Cora) medium skin (only varieties with green color of skin) (as for 50)color or ribs compared to same (Grey Zucchini) darker main color of skin(as for 50) dots present (Gold Rush, Table present Queen) size of maindots small (Ambassador) small secondary green color absent (GreyZucchini, absent between ribs (excluding Small Sugar) dots) warts onskin absent absent size of flower scar small (Goldi) small length ofpeduncle very short (Arlesa) short color of peduncle green (Ambassador)green intensity of green color of medium (Sunburst) medium pedunclemottling of peduncle absent (Sunburst) absent ripe fruit: main color ofyellow (Gold Rush) yellow skin (excluding color of mottles, patches,stripes and bands) intensity of main color of medium medium skin (onlyyellow and orange) ripe fruit: secondary color green orange of skin (asfor 69) ripe fruit: color of flesh cream (Elite) cream ripe fruit:lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, YellowSummer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrousflesh Spaghetti)) 10. Rind average thickness at 1.7 mm 1.9 mm medialtoughness hard hard overall color pattern regular regular main or groundcolor green bronze main or ground color 136A 139A (RHS Color Chart) 11.Flesh average blossom end 45.3 mm 22 mm thickness average medialthickness 45.8 mm 59 mm average stem end 42.2 mm 27.4 mm thicknesstexture 1 (fine, granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture 2 (soft,firm or firm soft brittle) texture 3 (dry, moist or juicy moist juicy)flavor slightly sweet slightly sweet quality good good colorcream/bronze white/cream color (RHS Color Chart) 157D 151B 12. SeedCavity average length 33.7 cm 28.85 cm average width 5.6 cm 5 cmlocation conforms to fruit shape conforms to fruit shape placentaltissue abundant abundant center core inconspicuous inconspicuous 13.Fruit Stalks average length 2.05 cm 2.75 cm average diameter 1.85 cm2.05 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twistedtwisted tapering tapered tapered straightness straight curved texturesoft soft furrows deep deep surface smooth rough attachment end slightlyexpanded slightly expanded detaches with difficulty easily color mediumgreen medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137B 137B 14. Seeds averagelength 14.35 mm 14.4 mm average width 8.7 mm 8.5 mm average thickness2.45 mm 2.75 mm face surface smooth smooth color white white color (RHSColor Chart) 155B 155A luster dull dull margin curved curved margin edgerounded rounded separation from pulp easy easy average grams per 100 9.3gm 13.75 gm seeds average number of seeds 146.5 187   per fruit seedcoat normal normal size small (Delicata) small shape elliptic (Elite)elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hullfully developed (Elite) fully developed color of hull cream (De Nice àFruit cream Rond) For NL Technical Questionnaire: Special Conditions forthe Examination of the Variety fruit type: zucchini fruit: patches,stripes or absent (Ambassador, Black bands in ripe stage (if Jack)zucchini type) *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineZGN-EH-08-283 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC ZGN-EH-08-283 Payroll 1.Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetablemarrow) summer 4. Cotyledon length 32.2 mm 46.1 mm width 23.1 mm 30.1 mmapex notched rounded veining prominent plainly visible color mediumgreen medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 143A 143A Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) broad elliptic intensity of greencolor of medium (Cora) medium cotyledons cross section of concaveconcave cotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant typeprickly pilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape round round diameter atmid-point of 25.3 mm 22.9 mm 1^(st) internode average length 27.0 cm26.3 cm average number of   25.2  25.3 internodes Stem color completelygreen (Becky) completely green intensity of green color dark (Greyzini)very dark mottling absent (Cinderella) absent tendrils absent torudimentary absent to rudimentary (Goldrush, Sylvana) Plant growth habitbush (Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varietiesonly: semi-erect to horizontal erect to semi-erect attitude of petiole(Goldi) (excluding lower external leaves) 7. Leaves blade shape reniformreniform blade form shallow lobed deep lobed margin dentate denticulatemargin edges frilled frilled average width 29.2 cm 35.1 cm averagelength 23.3 cm 29.9 cm leaf surface smooth smooth dorsal surfacepubescence soft hairy soft hairy vental surface pubescence soft hairysoft hairy color dark green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 147A 136Aleaf blotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leaf blade: sizemedium (Ambassador) medium leaf blade: incisions deep (Civac) mediumleaf blade: intensity of dark (Everest) dark green color of uppersurface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade:relative area very large (Summerstar) medium covered by silvery patchesaverage petiole length 33.1 cm 37.2 cm petiole: length medium (Goldi)long petiole: number of few (Opaline) many prickles 8. Flower pistillateflower: average 12.4 cm 13.5 cm diameter pistillate flower: ovarydrum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average 1.0 cm 3.0 mm pedicellength pistillate flower: margin curved curved shape pistillate flower:margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower: average 0.9 mm 1.2 mmsepal width pistillate flower: average 3.9 mm 5.9 mm sepal lengthpistillate flower: color orange orange pistillate flower: color N25D 17A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 18.2 mm 18.2 mm sepallength staminate flower: average 1.7 mm 2.5 mm sepal width staminateflower: average 107.5 mm 188.7 mm pedicel length staminate flower: colororange orange female flower: ring at present (Aurore) present inner sideof corolla female flower: color of yellow (Diamant, Patro) yellow andgreen ring at inner side of corolla male flower: ring at inner present(Goldi) present side of corolla male flower: color of ring green(Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner side of corolla male flower:intensity of strong (Goldi) strong green color of ring at inner side ofcorolla staminate flower: color  25A  23A 9. Fruit market maturity:average 14.9 cm 18.3 cm length market maturity: average 2.2 cm 3.7 cmwidth - stem end at market maturity: 1.2 cm 2.6 cm average width -blossom end market maturity: average 164.0 gm 230.7 gm weight marketmaturity: shape banana banana according to variety type market maturity:apex rounded rounded market maturity: base rounded rounded marketmaturity: ribs inconspicuous prominent market maturity: rib shallowshallow furrow depth market maturity: rib narrow narrow furrow widthmarket maturity: fruit smooth smooth surface market maturity: warts nonenone market maturity: blossom slightly extended raised acorn scar buttonyoung fruit: ratio length/ medium (Cora) medium maximum diameter(zucchini type varieties) young fruit: general shape cylindrical(Ambassador, cylindrical (zucchini and rounded Ibis) zucchini typevarieties) young fruit: main color of green (Elite, Opal, Romano) greenskin (excluding color of ribs or grooves) young fruit: intensity of verydark (Carnaval, dark green color of skin (as for Corsair) 27) (excludingcolor of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color of skin)general shape cylindrical cylindrical length (zucchini type medium(Cora) medium varieties) maximum diameter medium (Opal) medium (zucchinitype varieties) ratio length/maximum medium (Cora) medium diameter(zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and rounded pointed necktype varieties) grooves present absent depth of grooves shallow(Connecticut Field) ribs absent absent main color of skin green(Ambassador, Baby green (excluding color of dots, Bear) patches, stripesand bands) intensity of green color of very dark (Baby Bear, dark skin(only varieties with Sardane) green color of skin) (as for 50) stripesin grooves absent (Baby Bear, Jack Be absent Little) dots absent(Sunburst) absent secondary green color absent (Grey Zucchini, absentbetween ribs (excluding Small Sugar) dots) warts on skin absent absentsize of flower scar small (Goldi) small length of peduncle short(Clarita) medium color of peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity ofgreen color of dark (Gold Rush) dark peduncle mottling of pedunclepresent (Elite) present ripe fruit: main color of dark green dark greenskin (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripefruit: secondary color orange orange of skin (as for 69) ripe fruit:color of flesh yellow (Sunburst, Vegetable cream Spaghetti) ripe fruit:lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, YellowSummer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrousflesh Spaghetti)) 10. Rind average thickness at 1.8 mm 2.2 mm medialtoughness hard hard overall color pattern irregular regular main orground color gray/green gray/green main or ground color N189A N189A (RHSColor Chart) color of blotches orange yellow/orange color of blotches(RHS  26A  22A Color Chart) pattern of blotches not specific notspecific 11. Flesh average blossom end 35.0 mm 16.1 mm thickness averagemedial thickness 37.1 mm 41.3 mm average stem end 33.8 mm 20.7 mmthickness texture 1 (fine, granular, granular fine lumpy or stringy)texture 2 (soft, firm or firm firm brittle) texture 3 (dry, moist ormoist moist juicy) flavor sweet slightly sweet quality excellentexcellent color yellow/green yellow/green color (RHS Color Chart) 150D150D 12. Seed Cavity average length 31.8 cm 29.5 cm average width 4.7 cm5.7 cm location conforms to fruit shape conforms to fruit shapeplacental tissue sparse abundant center core inconspicuous inconspicuous13. Fruit Stalks average length 1.7 cm 2.8 cm average diameter 1.7 cm2.2 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted nottwisted tapering tapered tapered straightness straight slightly curvedtexture spongy spongy furrows none deep surface smooth smooth attachmentend slightly expanded slightly expanded detaches with difficulty withdifficulty color dark green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 138A 137A14. Seeds average length 12.7 mm 14.0 mm average width 7.3 mm 8.5 mmaverage thickness 3.3 mm 2.4 mm face surface smooth smooth color creamcream color (RHS Color Chart) 155D 159D luster glossy glossy margincurved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulp easy easyaverage grams per 100 11.0 gm 13.1 gm seeds average number of seeds 103222.3 per fruit seed coat normal normal size small (Delicata) mediumshape elliptic (Elite) elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) presentappearance of hull fully developed (Elite) fully developed color of hullcream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) For NL Technical Questionnaire:Special Conditions for the Examination of the Variety fruit type:zucchini *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of ZGN-EH-08-238Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC ZGN-EH-08-238 Payroll 1. Species PepoPepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow) summer4. Cotyledon length 37.8 mm 50.1 mm width 25.3 mm 30.35 mm apex taperedrounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color medium green darkgreen color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 147A Seedling shape of cotyledonselliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color of medium(Cora) dark cotyledons cross section of straight (Sunburst) straightcotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant type piloseprickly 6. Main Stem cross-section shape round round diameter atmid-point of 25.2 mm 20.1 mm 1^(st) internode average length 23 cm 25.1cm average number of   26.2  25.4 internodes Stem color completely green(Becky) completely green intensity of green color dark (Greyzini) darkmottling absent (Cinderella) present tendrils absent to rudimentary welldeveloped (Goldrush, Sylvana) Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bushbranching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only: erect (Blanche noncoureuse semi-erect attitude of petiole 3, Yellow Crookneck) (excludinglower external leaves) 7. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform bladeform deep lobed deep lobed margin dentate dentate margin edges frilledfrilled average width 29.8 cm 34.5 cm average length 23.1 cm 29.5 cmleaf surface blistered smooth dorsal surface pubescence glabrous softhairy vental surface pubescence glabrous soft hairy color dark greenmedium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 137B leaf blotching blotchedwith gray blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) mediumleaf blade: incisions deep (Civac) medium leaf blade: intensity of dark(Everest) medium green color of upper surface leaf blade: silverypatches present (Civac) present leaf blade: relative area large (Cora)large covered by silvery patches average petiole length 32.8 cm 35.45 cmpetiole length medium (Goldi) medium petiole: number of absent or veryfew (Kojac) many prickles 8. Flower pistillate flower: average 9.3 cm14.4 cm diameter pistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillateflower: average 1.3 cm 4.2 cm pedicel length pistillate flower: margincurved curved shape pistillate flower: margin frilled frilled edgespistillate flower: average .8 mm 1.2 mm sepal width pistillate flower:average 3.4 mm 6 mm sepal length pistillate flower: color orange deepyellow pistillate flower: color  23A  23A (RHS Color Chart) staminateflower: average 20.6 mm 16.5 mm sepal length staminate flower: average1.7 mm 2.3 mm sepal width staminate flower: average 90 mm 178.25 mmpedicel length staminate flower: color orange deep yellow female flower:ring at present (Aurore) present inner side of corolla female flower:color of green (Aurore, Early White yellow and green ring at inner sideof Bush Scallop, President) corolla female flower: intensity of medium(Samba, Senator) weak green color of ring at inner side of corolla(varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ringat inner present (Goldi) present side of corolla male flower: color ofring green (Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner side of corolla maleflower: intensity of strong (Goldi) medium green color of ring at innerside of corolla staminate flower: color  23A  14A 9. Fruit marketmaturity: average 18.7 cm 18.3 cm length market maturity: average 4.5 cm3.9 cm width - stem end at market maturity: 4.1 cm 3.4 cm averagewidth - blossom end market maturity: average 269 gm 240.9 gm weightmarket maturity: shape straightneck straightneck according to varietytype market maturity: apex rounded rounded market maturity: base roundedflattened market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuous marketmaturity: rib shallow shallow furrow depth market maturity: rib narrownarrow furrow width market maturity: fruit smooth smooth surface marketmaturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom slightly extendedraised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/ very large (Spidy)medium maximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: generalshape cylindrical (Ambassador, cylindrical (zucchini and rounded Ibis)zucchini type varieties) young fruit: main color of green (Elite, Opal,Romano) green skin (excluding color of ribs or grooves) young fruit:intensity of very dark (Carnaval, dark green color of skin Corsair)(excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color ofskin) general shape cylindrical club shaped length (zucchini type short(Jedida) short varieties) maximum diameter medium (Opal) small (zucchinitype varieties) ratio length/maximum medium (Cora) medium diameter(zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and rounded rounded necktype varieties) grooves absent present ribs present present protrusionof ribs weak (Ambassador) weak main color of skin green (Ambassador,Baby green (excluding color of dots, Bear) patches, stripes and bands)intensity of green color of very dark (Baby Bear, medium skin (onlyvarieties with Sardane) green color of skin) color of ribs compared tosame (Grey Zucchini) same main color of skin dots present (Gold Rush,Table present Queen) size of main dots small (Ambassador) very smallsecondary green color absent (Grey Zucchini, absent between ribs(excluding Small Sugar) dots) warts on skin absent absent size of flowerscar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle short (Clarita) mediumcolor of peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity of green color ofmedium (Sunburst) medium peduncle mottling of peduncle absent (Sunburst)present ripe fruit: main color of yellow (Gold Rush) yellow skin(excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit:intensity of medium medium main color of skin ripe fruit: secondarycolor green green of skin (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripesand bands) ripe fruit: color of flesh cream (Elite) cream ripe fruit:lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, YellowSummer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrousflesh Spaghetti)) 10. Rind average thickness at 1.4 mm 2.1 mm medialtoughness hard hard overall color pattern regular regular main or groundcolor green yellow green main or ground color 139A 151D (RHS ColorChart) 11. Flesh average blossom end 8 mm 9.45 mm thickness averagemedial thickness 85.8 mm 25.2 mm average stem end 13.8 mm 16.2 mmthickness texture (fine, granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture(soft, firm or firm soft brittle) texture (dry, moist or dry juicyjuicy) flavor insipid insipid quality good good color yellow bronzecreamy white color (RHS Color Chart) 1D 157A 12. Seed Cavity averagelength 34.9 cm 28.7 cm average width 6.9 cm 5.85 cm location conforms tofruit shape conforms to fruit shape placental tissue abundant abundantcenter core inconspicuous inconspicuous 13. Fruit Stalks average length2.2 cm 2.7 cm average diameter 2.1 cm 2.1 cm cross-section shapeirregular irregular twisting not twisted not twisted tapering taperednot tapered straightness straight straight texture hard spongy furrowsdeep deep surface rough smooth attachment end expanded expanded detacheswith difficulty easily color dark green medium green color (RHS ColorChart) 137A 137C 14. Seeds average length 13.2 mm 14.1 mm average width7.6 mm 8.6 mm average thickness 2.8 mm 1.9 mm face surface smooth scalycolor white cream color (RHS Color Chart) 155C 162D luster dull dullmargin curved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulpeasy easy average grams per 100 11 gm 11.6 gm seeds average number ofseeds 181 248.5 per fruit seed coat normal normal size small (Delicata)medium shape elliptic (Elite) broad elliptic hull present (Baby Bear,Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) fullydeveloped color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) fruit type:zucchini fruit: patches, stripes or absent (Ambassador, Black bands inripe stage (if Jack) zucchini type) *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Squash Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof squash hybrid SV9054YG involving crossing squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283and ZGN-EH-08-238. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid SV9054YG, line ZGN-EH-08-283, or ZGN-EH-08-238 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid SV9054YG and/or the squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 andZGN-EH-08-238, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid SV9054YG and/or the squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238.Plants derived from hybrid SV9054YG and/or the squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 may be used, in certain embodiments, forthe development of new squash varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV9054YG followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV9054YG and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 for thepurpose of developing novel squash lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofsquash plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid SV9054YG exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238. Theperformance characteristics of hybrid SV9054YG and squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 were the subject of an objectiveanalysis of the performance traits relative to other varieties. Theresults of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Data for Hybrid SV9054YG Plot Hybrid Shape ColorUniformity Blossom scar Vigor Spine Habit Branching fruit/plant 1018Competitor 1 5 5 6 3 3 5 4 6 8.6 1033 Competitor 1 5 6 4 4 3 5 3 5 9.91279 Competitor 1 4 4 6 3 3 6 5 4 14.2 1358 Competitor 1 4 3 4 3 3 5 4 514.0 1519 Competitor 1 3 5 4 2 4 2 3 5 5.0 1552 Competitor 1 4 4 6 3 3 33 4 2.0 1019 Competitor 2 4 6 4 4 3 4 5 4 4.8 1035 Competitor 2 5 6 4 33 4 4 4 8.5 1284 Competitor 2 3 3 3 4 5 6 5 4 12.2 1336 Competitor 2 5 45 3 3 4 4 4 12.2 1527 Competitor 2 4 5 5 3 2 5 2 4 5.9 1017 Competitor 35 5 5 2 3 2 4 5 3.0 1034 Competitor 3 4 5 4 3 3 2 4 5 11.4 1277Competitor 3 6 6 7 2 3 3 6 7 12.6 1328 Competitor 3 4 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 10.91521 Competitor 3 5 4 6 3 3 4 2 4 6.6 1546 Competitor 3 8 3 8 4 5 2 2 81.1 1016 Competitor 4 5 5 5 5 3 5 3 5 9.6 1032 Competitor 4 4 6 5 6 4 83 4 10.3 1273 Competitor 4 6 5 5 3 4 4 6 6 12.3 1357 Competitor 4 4 4 33 5 6 5 4 10.4 1515 Competitor 4 4 3 3 4 3 6 3 5 5.0 1564 Competitor 4 57 3 3 3 6 4 7 3.4 1013 SV9054YG 5 4 6 6 6 3 6 2 11.4 1084 SV9054YG 3 3 25 5 5 7 3 13.1 1299 SV9054YG 3 3 3 5 6 5 5 4 14.6 1338 SV9054YG 6 4 6 66 3 8 4 16.8 1509 SV9054YG 5 5 5 5 6 4 7 3 9.4 1560 SV9054YG 5 6 3 8 5 37 3 12.7 Qualitative traits observed on fruits (shape, color,uniformity, blossom scar) and on plants (vigor, spines, habit,branching) are made on a 1-9 scale, with 1 being optimal for the targetmarket and 9 being absolutely unacceptable, 5 being typical for theregion. Marketable fruit per plant is measured as the number of sellablefruits harvested per plant over a 28 day harvest window. Note that theaverage number of marketable fruits for SV9054YG across plots was 13.0,the nearest competitor averaged 8.9.

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those squash plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalsquash plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental squash plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a squash plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny squash plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of squash the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of squash plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a squash plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a squash plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of a squashvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a squash plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of squash hybrid SV9054YG and the inbred squash linesZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238, disclosed above and recited in theclaims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC),10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The dates of depositwere Oct. 10, 2014, Oct. 10, 2014, and Oct. 14, 2013. The accessionnumbers for those deposited seeds of squash hybrid SV9054YG and theinbred squash lines ZGN-EH-08-283 and ZGN-EH-08-238 are ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-121649, ATCC Accession No. PTA-121650 and ATCC Accession No.PTA-120620, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictionsupon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meetall of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will bemaintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years afterthe last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A squash plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of squash line ZGN-EH-08-283, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650.
 2. Aseed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash lineZGN-EH-08-283, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-121650.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which is aninbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim2, which is an inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is a hybrid.
 7. Theplant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is squash hybrid SV9054YG, asample of seed of said hybrid SV9054YG having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-121649.
 8. The seed of claim 6, defined as a seedof squash hybrid SV9054YG, a sample of seed of said hybrid SV9054YGhaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-121649.
 9. Theseed of claim 2, defined as a seed of line ZGN-EH-08-283.
 10. A plantpart of the plant of claim 1, said plant part comprising at least afirst set of the chromosomes of squash line ZGN-EH-08-283, a sample ofseed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-121650.
 11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf,an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A squash plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the squash plant ofclaim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim1, said cells comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes ofsquash line ZGN-EH-08-283, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650.
 14. The tissue cultureaccording to claim 13, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant partselected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons,pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed andstalks.
 15. A squash plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim13.
 16. A method of vegetatively propagating the squash plant of claim1, said method comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable ofbeing propagated from the plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivatingsaid tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting saidproliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim16, further comprising growing at least a first squash plant from saidrooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired trait into asquash line, said method comprising: (a) crossing a plant of lineZGN-EH-08-283 with a second squash plant that comprises a desired traitto produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650; (b) selecting an F1progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selectedF1 progeny with a plant of line ZGN-EH-08-283 to produce backcrossprogeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait;and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produceselected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desiredtrait and otherwise all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of line ZGN-EH-08-283.
 19. A method of producing asquash plant comprising an added trait, the method comprisingintroducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plant of squashhybrid SV9054YG or squash line ZGN-EH-08-283, a sample of seed of saidhybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-121649 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650, respectively.
 20. Aplant of squash hybrid SV9054YG or squash line ZGN-EH-08-283 furthercomprising a transgene wherein the plant otherwise comprises all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of squash hybridSV9054YG or squash line ZGN-EH-08-283.
 21. The plant of claim 20,wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consistingof male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pestresistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism andmodified protein metabolism.
 22. A plant produced by introducing asingle locus conversion into a plant of squash line ZGN-EH-08-283,wherein the converted plant comprises the single locus conversion andotherwise all of the morphological and physiological characteristics ofsquash line ZGN-EH-08-283, a sample of seed of squash line ZGN-EH-08-283having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650.
 23. Theplant of claim 22, wherein the single locus conversion confers a traitselected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A methodfor producing a seed of a squash plant derived from at least one ofsquash hybrid SV9054YG or squash line ZGN-EH-08-283, said methodcomprising the steps of: (a) crossing a squash plant of hybrid SV9054YGor line ZGN-EH-08-283 with itself or a second squash plant; a sample ofseed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-121649 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-121650, respectively;and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SV9054YG or line ZGN-EH-08-283-derivedsquash plant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising thesteps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid SV9054YG orZGN-EH-08-283-derived squash seed to yield additional hybrid SV9054YG orline ZGN-EH-08-283-derived squash seed; (d) growing said additionalhybrid SV9054YG or line ZGN-EH-08-283-derived squash seed of step (c) toyield additional hybrid SV9054YG or line ZGN-EH-08-283-derived squashplants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d)to generate at least a first further hybrid SV9054YG or lineZGN-EH-08-283-derived squash plant.
 26. The method of claim 24, whereinthe second squash plant is of an inbred squash line.
 27. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid SV9054YGor ZGN-EH-08-283-derived squash plant with a second squash plant toproduce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 28. A plant part of the plant ofclaim 7, wherein the plant part comprises a cell of squash hybridSV9054YG.
 29. The plant part of claim 28, further defined as a leaf, anovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 30. A method of producing a squashseed, said method comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itselfor a second squash plant and allowing seed to form.
 31. A method ofproducing a squash fruit, said method comprising: (a) obtaining theplant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated tomaturity; and (b) collecting a squash from the plant.